JORDIE McKenzie says the Demons' tendency to fall away immediately after half-time must be addressed quickly if Melbourne is going to have a chance against the Western Bulldogs next week.
 
In the first three rounds Melbourne has been outscored 152 points to 28 points in the third quarter. On Saturday, Richmond outscored the Demons 57 points to six points in the third to put them out of the contest.
 
McKenzie admitted the exact reasons for the trend were hard to pinpoint but said the team was being smashed around the stoppages at vital times. Once things began to go wrong he said the team found it difficult to stop the opposition's momentum.
 
"Then it is just a snowball effect which we have not been able to curb," McKenzie said.

"We have to stop teams from scoring a lot quickly as they blow the game right out and put us out of the contest."

On Saturday McKenzie would have been entitled to be feeling good at half-time. The margin was just eight points. He had restricted the Tiger playmaker Trent Cotchin to just eight possessions while managing seven possessions himself. Richmond had won just one more clearance than Melbourne.
 
While the inside 50 count was 27 to 17 Richmond's way, the Demons had scored 64 percent of the times it had gone inside 50.
 
"We knew we were in the contest," McKenzie said of the team's mood at half-time.

"We were positive going out there but we weren't able to carry out the gameplan effectively for that next quarter."
 
In 30 minutes the margin had blown to 59 points and the inside 50 count was 52 to 21 Richmond's way. Cotchin had picked up 12 disposals and kicked two goals. McKenzie's mood had changed.
 
McKenzie admitted the Demons were dictated to during that period of the game, with their effectiveness away from congestion an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed.

"The boys are working hard to get it (the football) out and help each other but we need to do it a bit more effectively, (improving) our running patterns and ball use," McKenzie said.
 
Despite the result, McKenzie said it was critical for the players to stay positive and upbeat after a tough start to the year.

"If we all stay positive and get around each other we can turn it around," he said.

"It's easy saying that (but) we've got to actually put it into actions and that is going to be the big test going forward."
 
Jordie McKenzie is a $376,300 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team. Register your team here.